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Restore Tafe And Reduce Costs To Boost Apprenticeships

Media Releases

State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Minister for Skill to restore TAFE and reduce course costs to help encourage young people to take up apprenticeships and traineeships.

The Hunter is experiencing a skills shortage with dozens of apprenticeships and traineeships remaining unfilled across the Hunter.

Enrolments in local TAFE courses are also at record lows with enrolments in some courses down by more than 40%. This follows years of cuts and fee increases by the NSW Government.

Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery

“We are experiencing a skill shortage here in Wallsend with dozens of apprenticeships and traineeships remaining unfilled.”

“TAFE teachers are telling me that enrolments are down in some courses by more than 40%.”

“One of the big issues for young people is the increased costs for vocational education courses. Many courses now cost more than double what they did just a few years ago.”

“The Federal Government has cut allowances for apprentices which helped them purchase the tools of their trade.”

“With TAFE Campuses having their courses cut, people have to travel further to be able to study and the costs are just too much for young people to bear.”

“The Minister for Skills should reinstate trade courses at campuses across the Hunter and dramatically reduce the course costs to encourage young people to take up apprenticeships and traineeships.”

“This Government needs to ensure that TAFE has the funding it needs to provide education to all who need it, including those who can least afford it.”

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